Republic Of China (Taiwan), National Defense Report, 2013

 

 

 

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) periodically publishes national defense reports in accordance with Article 30 of the “National Defense Act.” On one hand, the reports describe the current status and results of the national defense policy and national defense administration, so as to gain citizens’ identification and support. On the other hand, the reports show the ROC’s military transparency to the international society, and declare our determination for self-defense.

 

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) periodically publishes national defense reports in accordance with Article 30 of the “National Defense Act.” On one hand, the reports describe the current status and results of the national defense policy and national defense administration, so as to gain citizens’ recognition and support. On the other hand, the reports show the ROC’s military transparency to the international society, and declare our determination for self-defense.

 

This national defense report describes implementation results of the organizational system, force structure, talent cultivation, resource distribution, capability buildup, and gender equality. Furthermore, it explains how the ROC Armed Forces stepped up its training in response to changes in the security environment, so as to prevent war and preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait, enhance disaster relief capabilities to ensure the safety of people’s lives and assets, and build an elite defense force capable of disaster relief during peacetime and combat during wartime.

 

Cross-Strait relations have gradually improved in recent years, and the situation across the Taiwan Strait has become growingly relaxed. However, considering the significant growth of the PRC’s comprehensive national strength, as well as the PRC’s refusal to renounce the use of military force against Taiwan, which has led to its deployment of over a thousand missiles along the coasts, we cannot neglect the PRC’s threat to Taiwan, and consolidating our defense capabilities is the only way to truly ensure peace in the Taiwan Strait.

 

The ROC Armed Forces serve as a defender of national security and the people’s welfare, and a guardian of constitutional democracy. It resolutely holds the belief to “fight for the survival and development of the ROC, and fight for the safety and welfare of people in Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matzu.” The MND practically carries out force buildup and readiness, and enhances the ROC Armed Forces’ joint operations capabilities under the guidance of the military strategic concept of “resolute defense and credible deterrence,” aiming to achieve war prevention and deterrence. Based on the principles of “smart and steadfast, strict and arduous,” exercises and training missions, such as the Han Guang Exercise, are utilized to pragmatically review the Armed Forces’ training results, thereby enhancing the Armed Forces’ overall capabilities.

 

Volunteer force is an important part of national defense transformation, and aims to recruit outstanding men and wemen to join the military and build a “small but superb, strong and smart” elite force. Furthermore, drafted age men are required to receive four months military training to ensure reserve mobilization capabilities. After they complete training, they are included in the reservist system for management, accumulating mobilization capabilities and reinforcing them through all-out defense.

 

This report features “integration and innovation” and contains 4 parts and 8 chapters, each of which is further described below:

 

This part summarizes developments in the global security environment and trends of the security situation, and analyzes current traditional and non-traditional threats. Furthermore, it discusses the PRC’s rise and the “three step” strategy for its military modernization, as well as the influence on global and regional security environments, allowing citizens to understand the current security challenges we face.

 

The ROC Armed Forces formulated the general plan of national defense in response to national security challenges, and uses it as a basis for force buildup and readiness, as well as national defense administration. Its objective is to build a strong defense force that can achieve “resolute defense, credible deterrence” and safeguard national security.

 

Part 3 describes the efforts of the ROC Armed Forces in defense infrastructure,

capability preparedness, and defense management, expounding the results of efforts in “national defense organization,” “joint operations effectiveness,” “information and electronic warfare capabilities,” “logistics support,” “reserve capability buildup” and “intangible combat capability” in recent years. This part also explains how the ROC Armed Forces maximize the effectiveness of human, financial and material defense resources to support the execution of its missions.

 

Efforts of the ROC Armed Forces in all-out defense and citizen services are described in four aspects, namely national defense education, defense mobilization, disaster prevention and relief, and military-civilian services, emphasizing its endeavors and contribution to disaster relief and citizen services.